Toy



June 7,1938. L. MARX v- 2,119,641

TOY

Filed March 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 h INVENTOR LOUIS Marx ATTORNEYS June 7, 1938. L. MARX 2,119,641

' TOY Filed March 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVIENTOR Louls Marx ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 7,

17 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a climbing toy fireman, especially one combined with water hose and pump mechanism.

The primary object of my invention is to generally improve toys of the climbing fireman type. A more particular object is to combine with such a toy an additional figure toy, for example, a simulated infant, which may be positioned on the ladder at an intermediate point and so related to the fireman during movement along the ladder that the fireman will carry the infant with him.

A further object of my invention is to enhance the realism and play value of the toy by providing the fireman with a water hose connected to a water supply source. In accordance with still another object and feature of my invention, the water supply source is madein the form of a fire hydrant, and a part of the hydrant is manipulable to pump water from the hydrant through the hose.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other more detailed objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the toy elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the water supply source, and 'is taken in the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partially sectioned'elevation showing the construction of the toy fireman; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the toy comprises a ladder L, a fireman F movable along the ladder, a figure toy preferably in the form of a child C, a water hose H carried by the fireman, and a water supply source S preferably externally simulating a fire hydrant.

Considering the arrangement in greater detail, the ladder L.is made of sheet metal pressed to form poles l2 connected by rungs l4. As is best shown in Fig. 4, the poles l2 are tubular in construction, thereby imparting sufficient rigidity to the same and presenting a smooth exterior along which the fireman F is readily slidable. The ladder may, if desired, be made in sections, in which case the ends of one section are dimensioned to be snugly received within the ends of the adja- 1935, Serial No. 9,708

cent section, so that the ladder when assembled is effectively continuous. The lower end of the ladder is mounted. on a base It by means of a pin l8 extending through the ladder and held in ears 20 struck upwardly from the base. The ladder is supported in elevated position by arms 22 preferably forming the ends of a single 'U-shaped piece of wire the cross bar 24 of which is pivot.- ally mounted on base I6 by bearing lugs 26 rolled upwardly from the base. The ends of arms 22 are turned inwardly and fit into a pair of holes 28' punched through the poles of the ladder. Only one of the holes 28 is visible in Fig. 1. Additional pairs of holes 30 and 32 may be provided along the poles of the ladder, and it will be evident that the angle of the ladder may be changed by spreading the arms 22 apart and permitting them to enter another of the pairs of holes. It will also' be understood that the ladder and support arms may be folded down flat on the base for packing or shipment. 1

The fireman F is best shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a body 34 carrying arms 36 which extend forwardly to the ladder L. The fireman is also and are oppositely disposed in order to move the legs'in alternation. The cranks are rotated by an appropriate motor, and in the present case the body of the fireman is provided with a spring motor 50 the main spring of which is wound by a key 52 and which drives a gear 54 meshing with a centric 58 which is rotated at very high speed,

thereby tending to limit the motor speed. This eccentric may also be used as part of appropriate control or stop mechanism for the motor, here exemplified bya, lever 60 pivoted at 62 and having a brake portion 64 dimensioned to be moved in the path of rotation of eccentric 58, thus positively arresting rotation of the. motor. 'When lever 60 is moved in slot 66 to its opposite. posttion, the brake 64 is moved out of the path of cocentric 58.

The lower ends of legs 38 are provided with feet .68, and these are dimensioned to fit freely I between the successive rungs. I4 of the ladder.

The throw of cranks 46 and 48 is so dimensioned 7 that while one foot rests on one rung of the ladder, the other foot is moved over the next higher rung of the ladder. In this manner the fireman.

10. ascends the ladder. e

To stop the fireman at the top of the ladder, provide stops I0. These stops I are preferably made as indentations ornotches because it is a then readily possible to apply the fireman to the ladder over the upper or free end of the ladder. The arms 36 of. the fireman terminate in hands I2 connected by a cross bar I4 (Fig. 4). Lugs I5 are turned inwardly to encompass the poles of the ladder. The upper edges of cross bar 'I4 are tapered toward the poles of the ladder at I8, and

the arrangement andbalance of the toy is such.

that whenlcross bar .14 nears the top of the ladder, the edges 18' enter notches I0 and arrest.

continued movement. 253 The figure toy C may take any of a variety 1 of forms and is here illustrated as an infant or ;child'.' It is'provided with means adapting it to be mounted on the ladder at an intermediate point, and in the present case a simple hook 8!! (Fig.3) is secured to the back of the toy and is dimensioned to fit over any one of the ladder rungs I4. 'I'he'hook 80 is widely open and is so.

shaped that the toy is readily moved upwardly off the rung and along the ladder. The child and the fireman are provided with parts so engageable that the' fireman will carry the child upwardly with him' while ascending the ladder.

In the present case I; provide a rod 82 extendsh ing between arms 36 at such location as to come m back of the legs'84 as of the child and to hear I beneath the thighs. In operation, the fireman I approahes thechildQas shown in solid lines in Fig; 1 of the drawings, and thereupon carries thef child upwardly to the top of the ladder, is V indicatedin broken lines.

The water hose H is preferably a slenderflexi blerubber pipe or hose the upper or discharge end of which is provided with an appropriate e) nozzle .'3Il, and the lower or inlete d 92 of which 1's connected to thegwater supplyrsource S. The

, nozzle end is carried by the-fireman, and for this purpose I provide a bent wire support 94 the rear end 96 of which is secured to the crossarm "I4 of the fireman, and the forward end of which is bent to form an upright U-portion 98 and an s The hose is supported; in U-portions 98. and I00, and isreadily applied to or removed from the holder. At the same timethe holder directs the hose and nozzle away I :from'the ladder sothat the. stream ofwater will be directed toward the building against which inverted U-p0rtion I 00.

the ladder is supposedto be leaning,

'Water supply source. S comprisesa water-proof. container I 02 which is preferably generally cylindrical in form and which may bedetachably received in ,baseJB by placing the same in a mating opening in the base, as isbest shown in Fig, 2. A bead IM-may be, rolled outwardly on the wall of container I02 tolimit the insertion of the container in the base.

I06, while the upper, part of the simulated bye drant carries a water pump P for pumping water upwardly through hose H. In the present case the pump P, comprises a flexible rubber ball I08 supported in the upper part of the casing by a pedestal III]. Ball I08 is provided with valve nipples H2 and II 4; the valve in nipple I I2 be- 5' ing arranged for intake, and the valve in nipple .4 being arranged for discharge. A short length of pipe II 6 is secured to nipple I I2and communicates with the body of water I06. The end 92 of hose I-I passes through a projection H8 ,10 on the side wall. of the hydrant'and is connecte to discharge nipple II 4.

The pump is operated' by a depressible button I20 which is reciprocably received in the top I22 a simulated lamp post and fire alarm box I 30, 25 w and the mounting is preferably made detachable, as by the use of; a foot I32 on the lamp" post which is slidably received beneath a strap I34'displaced upwardly from the base. This assembly is convenient for packing and shipping thetoy. It isbelieved that the mode of constructing and using, as well as the many advantages'of my' improved toy, will be'apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The climbing I 35' fireman toyis improved in construction, and the realism and play value of the toy are enhanced by the simulated rescue of the infant and also by the hose equipment particularly in view of the actual discharge of water therefrom It will be 4o understood that these additional features may be'use-d 'singlyas well as in combination? For ex ample, the infant may beleft away from the toy when the hose is us'edfand, conversely, the hose may be freed from"its'supportandfleft at one/45 side while the apparent rescue is beingefiected The hose and pumpma'y be-usedseparately.

It will be. apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred form,

many changes and modifications'may be made in the structuredisclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined inthelfollow- 1 ing claims. he 1 i e I claim:

lf'A climbing' figure toy comprising a ladder,

a simulated firernan or other figure having-a body, arms extending frqm said body toward said ladder and slidable theralong, legs'inovably mounted near the: lower end of the body and having feet adapted :t o b'e moved between the 60 rungs of the ladder, a motor. in the body of said fireman connected tosaid legs, the resulting movementgof the feet causing ,the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, and inwardly notched stops formed onthe ladder near the 55 upper end thereof to stop the fireman at the top. a of the ladder, ,saidstops forming no; obstruction. to sliding of the firemanpntathe ladder over the :top end. thereof.

"2. A climbing toycomprising a lajddenj' 1 a simulated fireman or other figure slidable along M said ladder, a spring motor insaidfireman causing the fireman to move. on the ladder, a figure;

toy provided with means for-supporting the same on the ladder, and cooperating means on said 75 figure top and on said fireman, adapting said fireman to carry the figure toy during'its move.- ment on the ladder. 1

3. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder,

a simulated fireman having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs movably mounted near the lower end of the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a spring motor in the body of said fireman, and cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said legs, the

resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, a figure toy provided with means for supporting the same at an intermediate point on the ladder, and cooperating means on said figure toy and on said fireman, whereby said fireman carries the figure toy upwardly during his ascent on the ladder.

A. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs pivotally and slidably mounted near the lower end of the body, leg extensions projecting upwardly within the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a spring motor in the body of said fireman, and oppositely directed cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said legs extensions within said body, the resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, a simulated infant provided with means for supporting the same at an intermediate point on the ladder, and cooperating means on said infant and on the arms of said fireman, whereby said fireman carries the infant upwardly during his ascent on the ladder.

5. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman slidable therealong, a spring motor in said fireman causing the fireman to move on the ladder, a flexible rubber water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, and means on said fireman for receiving and holding the hose at the nozzle.

6. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs movably mounted near the lower end of the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a' spring motor in the body of said fireman, and cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said legs, the resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, a flexible rubber water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, means on said fireman for detachably receiving and holding the hose at the nozzle, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose.

'7. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs pivotally and slidably mounted near the lower end of the body, leg extensions projecting upwardly within the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a spring motor in the body of said fireman, and oppositely directed cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said leg extensions within said body, the resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, a flexible rubber water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, a bent wire support on said fireman for detachably receiving and holding the hose near the nozzle in a direction away from the ladder, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose.

8. A, toyv comprising in combination, a flexible rubber water hose having a nozzle at the dis charge end of said hose, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose, said source comprising a water containing casing simulating afire hydrant, a pump concealed therein, said pump having suitable intake and exhaust valves for positive pressure ejection of water, and means to operate said pump including a reciproeable button projecting from the casing and simulating a part of the fire hydrant.

9. A to-y comprising in combination, a flexible rubber water hose having a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, and a source of Water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose, said source comprising a water containing casing simulating a fire hydrant, a flexible rubber ball, means supporting the same near the top of the casing, a valved intake pipe depending from said ball to the bottom of the casing, a valved discharge pipe extending sidewardly from said ball to the lower end of the hose, and avertically reciprocable button projecting from the top of the casing immediately above said ball and simulatingthe top of the fire hydrant.

10. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman slidable therealong, a spring motor in said fireman causing the fireman to move on the ladder, a water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, means on said fireman for receiving and holding the hose at the nozzle, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose, Said source comprising a water containing casing simulating a fire hydrant, and pump means for forcing the water through the hose.

11. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fire-man having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs movably mounted near the lower end of the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a spring motor in the body of said fireman, and cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said legs, the resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to move on the ladder, a water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end of said hose, means on said fireman for receiving and holding the hose at the nozzle, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose, said' source comprising a water containing casing simulating a fire hydrant, pump means in said casing, and means to operate said pump including a reciprocab'le button projecting from the casing and simulating a part of the fire hydrant.

12. A climbing fireman toy comprising a ladder, a simulated fireman having a body, arms extending from said body toward said ladder and slidable therealong, legs pivotally and slidably mounted near the lower end of the body, leg extensions projecting upwardly within the body, feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a spring motor in the body of said fireman, and oppositely directed cranks rotated by said motor and connected to said leg extensions within said body, the resulting movement of the feet causing the fireman to climb upwardly on the ladder, a flexible rubber water hose, a nozzle at the discharge end'of said hose, means on said fireman for detachably receiving and holding the hose at the nozzle, and a source of water supply connected to the opposite end of the hose, said source comprising a water containing'casing simulating a fire hydrant, a flexible rubber ball, means supporting the same near the top of the casing, a valved intake pipe depending from said ball to the bottom of the easing, a valved discharge pipe extending sidewardly from said'ball. to the lower end of the fire hose, and a vertically, reciprocable button projecting from the top of the casing immediately above' said ball and simulatingthe top of the fire hydrant. a

'13. In a climbing figure toy in which a sim- I ulated figure climbs a ladder, a knock-down ladderstructuie,comprising a base, ears projecting upwardly at one part of said base, a ladder having its lower end pivotally mounted on said ears,.

a generally U-shaped wire support for holding said ladder in elevated position, the bottom part of the support being pivotally mounted on the 'base at a point remote from the aforesaid pivotal mounting of the ladder, the open ends of the support being bent todetachably fit mating parts of the ladder, whereby the support and theladder may be disconnected and folded in collateral relation in the direction of the base when the top is not in use;

14. In a climb-ing figure toy in which a simulated figure climbs a ladder, apart of said figure I sliding along the poles of I the ladder, a sectional Qsliding along the poles of the ladder, a knockdown ladder structure comprising a base, a sectional ladder, and a support, said ladder including a pluralityof sections each having poles connected by transverse rungs, the adjacent ends of the poles being arranged to fit together, one pole end being so reduced in dimension as to'be received in the adjacent pole end whereby the poles fit together to form a smooth, continuous pole,

the lowermost ladder section being pivoted at one part of the base, the support being pivoted at another part of the base, the opposite 'end of the support being'arranged to be detachably received by a part of the first ladder section in order to hold the same in elevated position, the

support and the bottom ladder sectionwhen disconnected being adapted to be foldedin collateral relation parallel to'the base. 7

16.'In a climbing'figure toy in which a sim 'ulated figure climbs a ladder, a part of said figure sliding along the poles of the ladder, a sectional knock-down ladder structure, said structure comprising a plurality of ladder sections, each section being made of a single piece of sheet metal stamped to form vertical strips connected by transverse rungs, said vertical strips'being rolled a to form smooth cylindrical poles between which extend the integrally formed rungs, the adjacent ends of the poles of the sections being mated together by means of a cylindricalprojecting part of reduced diameter on one pole end dimensioned to be received in the adjacent pole end, whereby the sections fit together to form smooth ,con-

tinuous poles of uniform diameter. a

1'7. A climbing figure toy comprising a ladder, a simulated figure having a body, arms extending from said body towards said ladder and slidable therealong, legs movably mounted near, the-lower end of the body and having feet adapted to be moved between the rungs of the ladder, a motor in the body of the figure connected to said legs, the resulting movement of the feet causing the figure to climb upwardly on the ladder, and means formed on, and localized at one part of the ladder to stop the figure from continued upward climbing when the figure reaches saidmeans, said means being so formed as to present no obstruction to sliding of the figure downwardly" on the ladder over the said means.

LOUIS MARX. 

